Sunday, September 28, 2014

This weekend we celebrate the birthday of Carol Lynn Pearson--kind of our Mormon "Grande Dame" when it comes to finding space inside our faith for people who feel on 'the outside looking in.' Well, that's who she is in my eyes, anyway. And I love her a ton.

This is the story of how I met Carol Lynn. I guess you could say she was kind of the starting point for me for my work inside the faith to reach out to others like me, and all who don't quite fit the imagined Mormon mold.

Enjoy.

A few years back when I was attending the Oakland First
Ward, someone handed me a book in Sacrament Meeting—it was “I Love You, Goodbye,”by
Carol Lynn Pearson. I didn’t know what
to say at first— while I wasn’t in the closet anymore (I was happily living a
great Mormon life: partnered, active in
Church and teaching Sunday School) I also wasn’t as “out” as I am today. But I
took the book gratefully, and I read it.

Throughout my
adult life, I’d ravenously read any books or articles that talked about the
church and homosexuality—they had, for the most part, left me horribly
depressed. But this one was different. Yes, the story was sad—tragic even. But
in the honesty and candor I also found something else: hope.

As I poured through the pages something within me
stirred. It was as if someone was turning a key to a box inside my head, and in
the box was this simple knowledge that my story—like the one I was reading—had
healing power, and perhaps, maybe, it was time to share it.

I was inspired to take action, but had no idea where to
begin. On a whim, I went to Google and
typed in Carol Lynn’s name. Most of the references that came up were commentary
on her work—and not all of it good, I might mention. It became clear very early
on that this woman was not short of detractors of her perspective and her work.
Yet, I remained undaunted and finally stumbled upon a website that looked to be
a legitimate page of hers.

I scoured the
page for an email address, and found one. Without really planning out what I
was going to say, I dropped her an email. I wish I’d saved a copy of it—it was
nothing short of me pretty much clumsily throwing my story down in a few short
paragraphs along with my then-sketchy ideas of how I might make this come to
life when I chose to share it with others. I sent the email, and honestly
expected that to be the end of things.

Within less than
an hour, there was a response in my inbox. “I assume you live in San
Francsico,” she said. “If that’s the case, what are you doing Tuesday
afternoon?” To say that I was stunned would be an understatement. Not only did
this woman respond back, but she’d invited me out to her home to talk in person
about my experience and how I might bring it to life to help others who muddle
through this thing called “gay Mormonism.”

As I drove out
of the city and got closer to her home, my palms began to sweat on the steering
wheel. I was, admittedly, a little star-struck. Here I was, just a normal guy
with no real published author credibility being invited to this famous author’s
home! In my mind’s eye, I imagined her to have the commanding presence of Meryl
Streep in “The Devil Wore Prada,” only much more kind and benevolent. I
envisioned being invited onto a back patio with sweeping views of Mount Diablo
and being served small sandwiches with the crust cut off by what I was sure
would be her ample house staff. I knew, in that moment, my life course could
very well be altered. And it was—but not in the way I expected at all.

I drove up to
the upper-middle class home, and before I even had the key out of the ignition,
out ran Carol Lynn from the front door—arms outstretched to greet me. She was a
wiry framed, small woman with a bright shock of curly white hair that encircled
her head like a halo. Her clothes were hiking clothes—cargo shorts, a tee
shirt, and walking shoes. And her hug, deep and tender, was as genuine as her
appearance.

“I would imagine
you have to use the restroom after that drive!” she said, once we’d exchanged
greetings. I smiled wryly, feeling a little awkward about my first exchange
with somewhat of a literary hero to be about the rather small size of my
bladder, but I agreed.

She walked me
into the house, “The bathroom is over to the left, help yourself—and get a
glass of water from the kitchen, because I am taking you on a hike!”

The first thing
that struck me when I walked in the door was not that I was some sweeping
palatial estate of the rich and famous—I was in a Mormon home. For those of
you who have been in one—or grew up in one—you’ll know exactly what I mean. Front
and center in the living room was a grand piano, since music played such a
critical role in the homes and lives of Mormons. The furniture was well loved
and well worn, and it was clear it had welcomed guests and family to this home
for years. The walls were cluttered not with dazzling self portraits of the
author or original works of art, but with frame after frame of family photos of
all different shapes and sizes—some new, some faded—but clearly a shrine to a
family that loved one another and called this place home.

But what struck
me most about the house was the smell. Again, for those of you who grew up Mormon
or had friends who did, you’ll know exactly what I am talking about. It was
food—good food, homemade food, the kind of stuff relegated to June Cleaver and
Mormon Mom’s.

Looking back, I
think the truth of the matter is I had walked into a palace. I had walked into a
palace that celebrated the lives, the love, and the talents of the Pearson
family. And I was more honored to be there than if I had stepped into the Taj Mahal
itself. You see, Carol Lynn had not just invited me into her home, but by extension,
she’d also invited me into her heart—and the heart of her family.

The hike
happened, as promised, and it was indeed an arduous one. I expected some easy
stroll along side a creek bed, and Carol Lynn surprised me once more. She took
me directly to the top of Mount Diablo—and without much rest for breathing, I
might add.

Along the way I
shared my story, and she shared more of hers. At the top of the mountain we
stopped, and she asked me to join in her ritual of blessing mother earth—I
heartily agreed, but didn’t really know what to do—but that wasn’t a problem. She
turned and pointed me in each direction and told me exactly what words to
speak. Here we were, two Mormons—albeit unorthodox ones—at the top of Mount
Diablo, offeringa non-traditional
blessing to the whole earth, without regard to specific faith—other than faith
in our Creator.

As we walked the
path home, I spoke more of my story, and finally of my fear. My fear, you see,
was that of retribution. I loved my church, and I’d worked hard to eke out a
quiet, little corner in the Bay Area where I could openly gay to a point, and
still enjoy all the blessings that a straight member would elsewhere. My fear,
I told Carol Lynn, was that I would come out both in print and in person, and
then would be excommunicated for my honesty.

She stopped in
her tracks, and looked at me for a moment, and didn’t speak right away. Then she
shielded her eyes from the sun with her hands, and made direct (and rather
piercing, I might add) eye contact. “Do what is right. Let the consequence
follow. That is my advice to you.”

When she spoke,
I thought of the chorus from the Mormon hymn she’d referenced:

Do what is
right; let the consequence follow.

Battle for
freedom in spirit and might;

And with stout
hearts look ye forth to tomorrow;

God will protect
you; then do what is right.

I knew I must begin.

For most of my life, I felt like I was a man with
a foot in two different worlds—and that I belonged in neither. But as I have
grown through this work—and in my testimony, I remain a man with a foot in two
different worlds.

In it, the journalist talked about the evening itself as well as looking at how social media has fostered change in the hearts and minds of Mormons on topics like our LGBT brothers and sisters.

While I appreciate the coverage, I regret the positioning.

This isn't really about pushing back on Church teaching,
our leadership, or our doctrine. This is about meeting people where they're at,
and helping create a Mormon culture where everyone is welcome, just as they
are--a culture our Savior Himself would foster. A more accurate headline would
be, "Mormons use social media to build connectedness and community inside
a faith that views them as 'different."

We're not the rebels the headline
might believe some to think. We're simply the face of cultural change, and are
engaged in this effort because we love our Savior, we love our fellow Mormons,
and we love our Church--and we want us to be better.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

I spend a fair amount of time at the gym. Working out has become part of my spiritual practice for me--it's an almost meditative state where I can simply "be" in my own body, and when I use my earphones I can play music that helps me feel insulated and private even when I'm in a room full of other people. I find as I exercise my body, my thoughts become more distinct, my motives become more clear, and I am better able to respond kindly to those around me because I am more centered.

Once in awhile, I get interrupted by well-meaning personal trainers offering advice on technique and form when I'm working out. Sometimes they're right, but sometimes they're not. Either way, I'm invariably surprised when someone approaches me and shares what they see to be the definitive right answer to a question I've never asked them. I can understand their motives, because once upon a time I, too, was someone who was certain I had the right answer for everyone's problems and I was compelled to share that right away! Suffice to say, my certainty and need to be right didn't always score me a lot of points with the humans around me. One thing I learned is unsolicited advice is seldom welcome.

Sometimes the same thing is true of those of us inside faith communities, including Mormonism. Based on fierce certainty that our way is the right way, and our God is the right God, we can feel entitled to share our enlightenment with those around us without considering the question, "Did they ask?"

What works better for me today is striving to embody the peace and mindfulness I get from my spiritual practice and staying close to my Savior--while allowing others the dignity to walk their own path. Sometimes it means people will ask my opinion about things of a spiritual nature or beyond, and sometimes not. Either way, for me, it's more like living a gospel of attraction instead of a gospel of promotion. After all, I try to look to my Savior in all things, and one of His mantras was, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." It certainly wasn't, "I stand at the door and shout and will continue until you open up and do things my way, and if you don't open it I'll shout even louder!!"

When I'm at my best--meaning I'm really putting the principles of my spiritual practice into my actions, words, and deeds--I'm a lot better equipped to deliver the message my Savior would have me deliver, and I'm pretty certain He'll bring the people into my life who may learn from me--and me from them.

I continue to learn to be honest with myself. I will not use my spiritual practice as an excuse to change others or tell them how to live. They have a Savior too, and it's not me. Trying to control how other people think and act disrupts my spiritual center and moves me away from my Savior. Instead, I strive to promptly admit my missteps and then put the focus back where it belongs: on me and my connectedness with my Savior.

Besides, I'm starting to believe that how I respond to someone's lack of interest in any message I might deliver is a far more powerful demonstration of my commitment to my Savior than any lengthy (and unasked for) testimony I could deliver.

Today, I will strive to bring my spiritual practice to life in my thoughts, words, and deeds--and allow others the dignity to walk their paths without my interference. Only when my focus is on my own spiritual growth can I genuinely be who my Savior wants me to be--for myself or anyone else.